Ivan Samarin
Russian dramatic actor, and theatrical teacher (b. 7/19 January 1817 in Saint Petersburg; d. 13/25 August 1885), born Ivan Vasilyevich Samarin (Иван Васильевич Самарин).
Born to a poor family, Samarin made his stage debut in 1832 while still a student at the Moscow Theatrical School. He went on to have a long and distinguished career at the Maly Theatre in Moscow (1837–1885). He was also professor of drama classes at the Moscow Conservatory, where he directed a student production of Tchaikovsky's opera Yevgeny Onegin in 1879.
Dedications
In 1884, Tchaikovsky wrote an entr'acte for string orchestra entitled A Grateful Greeting as part of the celebrations for Samarin's 50th year as an artist. After the actor's death this was published under the title Elegy, dedicated to his memory.